Synthesis of macrocyclic acetals containing lipophilic substituents

A series of new macrocyclic acetals all containing lipophilic substituents were prepared by reacting the appropriate diols and lipophilic acetal-containing dichlorides or ditosylates. The reactions using the ditosylates gave the best yields. Several of the macrocycles contained pyridine subcyclic units. The lipophilic acetals were obtained by reacting a long-chain aldehyde with 2-hydroxyethyl chloride or tosylate and 3-hydroxypropyl chloride or tosylate. At least two of the new pyridino ligands complexed with metal ions as shown by the use of these materials as carriers for silver nitrate through a water-methylene chloride-water bulk liquid membrane system.